5% of us can pass. I have, have u? Explain why u think u did!

[docrobbysherry]

By "passing" I mean a person thinks u r a woman without a doubt!:thumbsup:
Being ignored does NOT COUNT! U have to have spoken to a person face to face!:eek:

My 1st was on Halloween about 25 years ago. I joined a regular once a month dance group where folks hoped to hook up. It was my 1st time with this group. I got there early and was invited to sit with the women by a very nice experienced GG. The music played and men circled around us as we sat. I was dressed in a sexy devil costume wearing a full face mask. Not many did. We felt like red meat as the men checked us out. Of course the young, sexy women got asked to dance a lot. My mask put most men off.:sad:

But, eventually 2 asked me to dance. We danced around the floor until I was forced to answer a question! Then, the cat was out of the bag.:doh:
One looked like he'd been shot! When he recovered he let go my hand and walked off. The second stopped his silly smiling, spoke not a word. Walked me politely back to my seat after the song ended and vanished! That's how I KNOW I passed!:devil:

Why do u think u did?:battingeyelashes:

[JohnH]

When I wear men's casual clothing and enter a men's restroom I get all kinds of weird stares. One time when I was wearing men's business casual, I was waiting outside a women's restroom while my wife was doing here business. Some woman walked up to me and asked if I was waiting to use the facility. Another time, when I was wearing a dress and loading groceries into my vehicle some woman called out, "Is that you, Connie?"
Now, on the other hand, when I wear a dress in public nobody gives me any strange looks.

John

[kimdl93]

I have passed many times, despite my height and stature. How do I know? Frankly it has always come as a pleasant surprise, although I always try to blend in. I knew because a) the people (usually women) told me they believed I was a woman?and b) conversations suggested that the other party assumed I was a woman.

[Sometimes Steffi]

At 10 paces, I might pass on a good day. But, I don't really believe that I ever passed close up. But many people talked to me and treated me very well even though they knew my secret. I was just an interesting person to them, even if they didn't want to date me.

As for the guy who hit on me and asked me to dance, I blame "beer goggles".

[bridget thronton]

Only when a wait person asks what they can get you ladies (I have long hair and carry a person)

[Helen_Highwater]

Not looking to be pedantic but for me the benchmark for passing has to include having your face fully visible and being able to converse with someone and for them not to know you're from our community. Anything less is blending.

If you're dressed in a public place and people ignore you then that's surely a measure of how close you come to truly passing. You cause no alarm bells to ring, no double takes or curious stares. Visually you tick all the boxes.

I don't pass in the fullest sense of the term. My voice certainly let's me down even thought I do try to soften my speaking style. I make the effort and that carries weight with those I interact with. I am able to move freely about and yes I'm ignored but in the sameway I ignore most of those around me. I give them no cause to look at me harder than they look at anyone else.

Walking out of a mall to the carpark I had a GG walking next to me. A car alarm repeatedly going off caused her to comment, "Someones going to have a flat battery". My reply, my speaking voice then caused her to turn to look at me more closely. I was read but up to that point she had me as female. So passing, nope, close but no cigar.

[audreyinalbany]

I think the only way any of can claim to 'truly pass' is if they've interacted with a group of adolescent girls without being clocked

[Jenn A116]

I'm part of the 95%. I might come close to passing under the right (low light) conditions but I'm sure that others see through it. Still, every time I go out I try to get better in my presentation.

[Rhonda Jean]

Well, heavy on the "think you did part. Back in the mid 70's thru early 80's I thought I passed completely and without question. I had hair down past my bra strap ant was very good at styling with rollers, curling irons, you name it and I loved fooling with my hair. I had long natural nails, did my own brows, shaved all over, 5'9 and 130 pounds. I thought I could pass at will and with little effort, and certainly when I went all out I was very confident that I could pull it off.

I got married at 20, and with unlimited access to my wife's clothes (with her knowledge and permission) I dressed to pass on most weekends, maybe very casual, maybe dresses and heels. I felt like my less-than-passable speaking voice was overlooked because the rest of my presentation was so convincing. I was at least 22, maybe 24 before I had any idea that I was not passing as well as I thought. Not nearly. And I'll never forget it.

Saturday morning, my wife was working, and I was taking that opportunity to do my girl thing (again, with her knowledge). Did my hair. Straightened it with a blow dryer and round brush, then rolled it on big brush rollers and finished with enough hair spray to deplete the ozone. Would have been right at home at the Grand Ol' Opry. Used my wife's makeup, which I also thought I was pretty good at, wore her dress, her pantyhose, her heels, her bra stuffed with whatever looked right, polished my nails, wore her jewelry (except my earrings were clip-ons) and her heels. My reflection in the mirror was undoubtedly female, and I headed out the door for an ordinary day as a woman, as I had done for several years by then. At the time I would have said that nobody had ever read me.

My first stop was McDonalds. When I first walked in the door, still 15' away from the counter, the girl behind the counter reacted, was obviously surprised, and turned around to the people in the back and said something, and at that time everybody in the back was peeking over and around the racks to get a look at me. She barely contained bursting out laughing as she took my order. While I was waiting, two couples came in, the men wearing cowboy hats. As I took my seat in the dining area I heard her say, "Y'all be careful over there! There's a guy dressed like a woman!" I didn't hear their reaction but I didn't wait around. I took a few bites and left.

After that I was determined to find out what the hell went wrong. I'd go someplace dressed (to get donuts or whatever), then go back the next day and say something like, "You probably don't recognize me from yesterday." then describe what I was wearing and/or what I was doing there to where they'd remember me, treat it like it was just done on a lark, and talk with them enough to where I felt like I got an honest assessment on whether or not I passed. I was surprised by the percentage of time that I did not pass, and it put me on a greater quest/obsession to pass.

I think it's a higher bar to pass now than it used to be. Back then I was the only crossdresser or trans person that any of those people had ever seen. Their mind was a two way switch, male or female. I think it took more to knock that binary off kilter back then. Now people have that third choice, and I think it just takes more to pass. Of course, if you believe the pics you see on Reddit there a A LOT of boys now who are far beyond mere situational passing. As someone who worked REALLY hard at that and was never able to achieve it completely, that's pretty depressing.

[alwayshave]

It may be my football (American) player build that gives it away. Facially, I look like my sisters when I have makeup and a wig on.

[Robyn n TN]

I have been mistaken for a genetic woman many times. Usually it goes like this, I give my ID, which is male, to someone, either TSA or a server needing to see an ID, and they tell me that I gave them G#%$'s Id by mistake or that this isn't my ID it says Male. I always take it as a compliment and don't even mention anything. I also have had TSA agents, after going through the scanner and they need to pat me down, automatically have the female agent frisk me. I have also had them ask me if I wanted a male or female to pat me down. Almost every time it has happened I didn't really feel like I was on point with everything.

[Fiona_44]

I am going to guess that I probably pass around 80% of the time I am out as long as I do not open my mouth. When I do speak, if it's nothing more than saying just a word or two to someone, like "Thank You" to a cashier, I can do so in a fairly feminine voice. But having to speak a sentence or more gives me away every time even though I try and speak softer and slower.

[Marketa]

I wrote it in my thread about last weekend.

I went to a nearby mall, I sat down in a bus and there was about 1yo girl in a stroller looking at me (just as children are curious, nothing weird). I don't know why but I stuck a tip of my tongue at her for a split of a second so she opened her mouth wide open and stuck her whole tongue out at me. Her mother tickled her a little at the tongue for her to put it back, so of course I did it again and so did the girl. We did it twice more before the mother noticed I am the root of all that mischief, she then started laughing (not smiling but literally laughing) and let us play.

My guess is if she (the mom) realized I am CD, she would most likely turned her daughter away or something instead of letting us fooling like that.

[Rhonda Jean]

Some of the tells my informal "survey" of why I did not pass were interesting. One was my hands. But, my hands are small for a male and at the time I wore a half size larger ring than my wife. Maybe prominent veins? I don't know what to make of that one. One was supposedly because I was wearing a leopard print bra that was slightly visible under a thin black top. "No woman would do that." Really? I don't buy that that was the reason. My voice was the most common answer. My takeaway from it was that other than voice it was a combination of things that no one thing was the tipoff, but the sum of a lot of minor things. The mirror or a pic don't reveal those things. Movement is a huge part of that. So, while I thought that the piling on of feminine cues overwhelmed the male cues, it also works the opposite, and the male cues are sometimes the ones we have become so used to that we're blind to them.

While I think it's harder to pass unquestionable these days, I also think it's less important. I don't mean that everybody is absolutely OK with some in between presentation whether it's intentional or unintentional, but in most cases it causes less of a stir than it did years ago.

[docrobbysherry]

John, u passed.

Kim, if anyone tells that u look like a woman u didn't pass.

Steffi, I've been hit on by guys countless times. Some were young, athletic, and probably good looking. Not one of them thot I was a woman!:o

Bridget, SA's and waitresses don't count. It's their job to flatter u. If they do u can be certain u didn't pass!:sad:

Robyn, u MAY have passed?:straightface:

Marketa, anyone who assumes they passed probably didn't! When people think u r a female for sure they treat u differently.:heehee:

Rhonda Jean, I'm sure I have passed because my voice always gives me away.:thumbsdn:
And, the look the people's faces who were fooled is always priceless!:eek:

[prene]

I've been hit on by guys a few times. It was nice when they bought me a drink but when they came over to talk to me they could see I was not a gg.

and mostly it ended. A few still hit on me but I think they just wanted nasty sex YUCK.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I think the only way any of can claim to 'truly pass' is if they've interacted with a group of adolescent girls without being clocked

Oh, this is so right. Adolescent girls are much more perceptive and thy have no filter on what they say or how they act.

[Angela Marie]

I have been told by numerous people that I pass. I have a slight frame; 5f 6 150 pads (hoping to get back to 140). In addition my feminine voice is is pretty believable. I really can't put a number on it.

[Suzie Petersen]

I have not been out among people in many years until a few months ago when I was in girl mode all day on a long drive. I stopped at a number of gas stations and truckstops, went into the stores and interacted with a number of people throughout the day.
I did not notice anybody reacting to me, but I also didn't look for it.

I do not think I passed as a woman, but I do think I might have be recognized as a Trans woman and the people I interacted with were just ok with that.

I agree with Rhonda that "passing" is likely harder these days, but that it is less important. People are much more aware of us now and the shock effect is not the same anymore, especially for those of us who attempt to just look and present like ordinary women.

[Jasmine23]

John, u passed.

Kim, if anyone tells that u look like a woman u didn't pass.

Steffi, I've been hit on by guys countless times. Some were young, athletic, and probably good looking. Not one of them thot I was a woman!:o

Bridget, SA's and waitresses don't count. It's their job to flatter u. If they do u can be certain u didn't pass!:sad:

Robyn, u MAY have passed?:straightface:

Marketa, anyone who assumes they passed probably didn't! When people think u r a female for sure they treat u differently.:heehee:

Rhonda Jean, I'm sure I have passed because my voice always gives me away.:thumbsdn:
And, the look the people's faces who were fooled is always priceless!:eek:

I agree with a lot of what you say here if anyone says you look like a woman you don't pass, people don't say that to women. Same with waitresses or sales assistants, they are there to sell you more/ make you spend more, so they want to make you feel good /compliment you. Most people are too polite to say anything or have a live and let live attitude. There are some who genuinely pass under the closest of scrutiny, but, it's rare they are usually quite androgynous to begin with and put huge effort into perfecting their feminine mannerisms and voice.

[Karren H]

I have not really tracked whether I passed or not on any given outing. I never really had anyone stop and point at me or harass me. I always tried to present that I belonged where ever I was, dressed as I was. And I was never kicked out of any ladies rest rooms or any casinos or any stores. Maybe people were just being kind? Lol. But I did always assume that everyone knew that I was not a woman. Personally I do not think I pass well at all. But then again I did not really care if I did.

[SaraLin]

OK Doc, I'll take the challenge.

But first, I'll be the first to admit that moments where I am mistaken as a GG are very rare - and cherished all the more because of it.

Here goes.

I've told this one before, but I'll fill in a bit more

I was driving on a 12 hour trip between states, fully femme all the way. For the most part, I stayed in the car and only stepped out to gas up the car (without anyone taking any real notice of me, but that doesn't really count)

Then it happened. I needed to "use the ladies room." Uh-oh! Now what?
Well -there's nothing but to "just do it" as the saying goes. So, I pulled into a rest area, and headed out.
Oh no! there was a "closed for cleaning sign" outside, and a man was just stepping out.
Not knowing what else to do, I asked (in my best voice) if the ladies rooms were now open.
He smiled, and told me that he'd just finished up and to go on in.
A few minutes later as I was coming back out, I encountered him again as he was walking by.
With a smile, he said "ladies first" and waved for me to go ahead of him.

He gave absolutely NO indication that he saw anything out of the ordinary in me, and in fact, his mannerisms and way of talking to me were definitely showing me that he felt that he was talking to an (older) lady. It's hard to describe, but it was there.

Now, I didn't get too close to him and I didn't engage in any extended conversation with him, but I'll still take this as a "win."

[kimdl93]

Sherry, perhaps my word choice was inadequate. I have never had anyone approach me to say, “…you look like a woman.” I have had conversations with women in a context that made it clear that they assumed I was a woman. It hasn’t happened as often as I would wish, but always comes as a pleasant surprise.

[mirima1992]

I don't have the guts to go out in the day. But I'm petite and get honks and a few catcalls when walking at night or early am just before it gets light. One guy slowed down and asked if I needed a ride. I ignored him and just kept walking. He said "don't make me get out the chloroform," then pulled away when I didn't react. It was just the start of morning pre-rush so people have somewhere to be, so I figure pretty safe.

[CarlaWestin]

Geez, enough with the passing nonsense. Reality is such a nice comfortable place to live.
I've had several conversations with women while out dressed and I just feel they don't care or they just assume I'm a crossdresser.
When a coworker asked why I had clear nail polish I exclaimed that no one had noticed. She informed me that everyone noticed. She was just the only one to say something to me.
Sherry, respectfully, I believe on close up inspection, your presentation might be more like a fabulous mannequin that has come to life. The polite gentlemen scurried away wondering WTF.
IMHO, your posing as a female in that situation was willingly disingenuous and shameful.

Mirima, you do know that the times you chose and the venue are pretty dangerous. Do you see anyone else out for a stroll dressed like that at that time?
The only people out there are cops and criminals.

[Rhonda Jean]

Passing for me, back when there was a possibility of it, was the holy grail. Because I placed such emphasis on it, I'm sure I tended to ignore a lot of signs when I didn't, and relished the times that I did. Some people are incredibly perceptive and some are oblivious. I do pretty good with the oblivious ones.

Not exactly a "not passing" story, but back when I occasionally wore heels in male mode I was wearing a pair of narrow heels, about 4" high, that were almost covered by my jeans. There was a boy who couldn't have been more than 3 coming toward me alongside his mother and another woman. The boy focused on those shoes, and had a bug-eyed reaction all the way past me and looking over his shoulder after he passed me. The women had no reaction whatsoever. I wouldn't have ever thought that a 3 year old would have noticed anybody's shoes short of clown shoes, but this boys reaction was priceless!

[Terrihoney]

My presentation is much better than my old avatar, and at a mature age, a slightly deeper voice is not unusual for women. I pass quite comfortably. One for instance was at a bar, conversing with a lady who was all emotional. She had recently lost a daughter and found her birth mother. After much G to G consoling, she started kissing me, really passionately! Finally, her husband sitting next to us, took her home.
Then the two years I was a member of a woman's only social club. That was fun, but nerve wracking for fear of being outed.

Passing is much more than make up and clothing. All the subtle movements we are unaware of add up.

Terri

[Claire M]

"Passing" is a relative term usually confused with accepted. Can I walk into a store, eat in restaurant, or even the ladies restroom without attracting attention, being stared at or called out? Usually. When i have interactions with a server or sales assistant I occasionally am misgendered as a man but but most addressed as female. Is it because I'm passing or because they are being polite or civil? I have struck up conversations with both men and women while dressed. I would like to believe they were 100% sure they were talking to a woman ... but I 100% doubt it. Passing to me (and for me) is to be accepted for who you are no matter how you dress. I have met only one or two CDs that would not be clocked in any situation.

Sherry, I would not consider your tale as even close to passing. It was Halloween and you may have been wearing a sexy outfit at a hookup party. but you were wearing a full face mask. Im also assuming the lights were low. Just because they let you sit with the girls in that situation means very little. My uncle used to paints signs on his dairy cows during hunting days season. When the lighting was low (and the alcohol a bit high) many of his cows were "mistaken" as deer by the hunters.

I will close with one anecdote. I went into a Walmart store to grab a few item. It was late summer and I encountered an older gentleman with two younger children in the 5 - 10 year old range, obviously his grandchildren. He stopped me, asking if I had children or if I knew what kids needed for school these days. I spent about 15 minutes helping them buy their school supplies. I'm guessing he never shopped for school supplies for his kids and now was tasked with shopping for the grandkids. He was desperate and I was a lifeboat. At no time did he or the children give any indication they thought I was anything other than a helpful lady. I walked away never knowing what gender they thought I was, but feeling wonderful that I could help. For me that was a pass.

[docrobbysherry]

Carla, I agree with you about when I passed the first time. It was a venue where men and women went to hook up. I had no such intentions. And, I went hoping to mislead the men. That was wrong and I've NEVER done that again!:thumbsdn:

Here's another, better example of my early passing. We were a Rocky Horror show where a friend of ours played Dr. Frankenfurter. Many folks wore character costumes as did we. After the first show ended I needed to go to bathroom and thot the women's room was safer as I was dressed as Magenta. I stayed in the stall until it was all quiet. Then, since I was alone I went to the mirror to check the make up job on my mask. Just then, a loud group of young women stormed in and surrounded me at the mirror! They also wore costumes. They were jabbering nonstop about the show, etc, etc, while I pretended to fiddle with my bushy wig. Even tho they were virtually brushing up against me and staring straight at me in the mirror, no one gave me a second glance. One made a comment about my costume and asked casually if I was going outside for photos with the cast? I nodded yes, so as not out myself. Then, just as quickly they all rushed out!:eek:

Claire, dressing to blend as not passing. In fact for me it's the exact opposite!:heehee:

[Sometimes Steffi]

I forgot all about this, but I think it qualifies. I used to go to a women's clothing swap as Steffi. It was held at a regional county office that doubled as the local police station. Since I couldn't dress at home, I would dress on the way. This time I was in the ladies room all girled up. I was standing at the mirror doing my makeup. This GG walked in behind me, and she had brought in a few tops that she wanted to try on. Off comes her top, with just the bra showing, and she put on the new top. She did this a few times. I'm assuming she thought I was just another girl. I finished doing my makeup, but I just stood there acting as if I was still doing my makeup. I was afraid to turn around, because I'd definitely be made at 3 feet. I waited until she left before exiting the ladies room.

I have to assume that she thought I was just another girl. Otherwise, I don't think she would have taken her top off.

[Sophie Yang]

I was at the gym last week and an older gentleman asked if I had injured myself. He had seen me working out over an extended period of time. He said that my mobility has greatly improved. That made my day. I have doing a lot of physical therapy hip and knee exercises for severe bone on bone arthritis. While I was working out, the trainer was basically running a private class because she only one gal in her class. It turns out that the gal in the class was his wife. He mentioned that I should go talk to the trainer. When the class ended, I did go talk to the trainer about some of the exercises she had shown in the class. His wife had joined him. He was telling her, "she was watching her class and that she wanted to incorporate some the exercises into her hip and knee physical therapy exercises." We chit-chatted a bit more and then I headed off to my Brazilian Jui-Jitsu class, BJJ.

I started taking BJJ classes almost a year ago. I just assume that they know that I am not a GG. I am bigger than most of the GG, 5'6", 158 lbs, but there are are a number who are much bigger than I am.
A new stutdent joined the class a short while ago. We practice and roll together alot. After a Saturday class, we went out to lunch and talked on several different topics. She asked me what my husband does? I told her that my wife has been working on a geneology book, home schooled our two boys, and we will be providing hospice care for our niece. She has a nursing licesce and a young son. She is interested in doing some/all home schooling with him. Her biggest concern about home schooling is socialization. I told her that is probably the most frequently asked question. Socialization is a non-issue. When kids are around responsible adults all the time, they learn what the expected behavior is. When home schooled kids, especially the young ones, are around other kids, it is easy for them to act like a kid. It is much harder, not impossible, for non-home schooled kids to not act up when around adults.

When I was on the road, I would go out a lot, alone. When guys are hitting on you, that was my sign that I was passing. You kind of expect it in bars, but it is unexpected when
entering a library or walking the hall ways between buildings.

I really don't worry about passing too much when out and about.

[Claire M]

Claire, dressing to blend as not passing. In fact for me it's the exact opposite!:heehee:

Sherry, I guess you need to define "passing". I'm sure if you polled all the contributors to this site you would find a variety of definitions for "passing". For some, it's simply seeing themselves in the mirror as their deep inner selves, even if they never step out of their bedroom. For others it might be using a fast food drive thru without being addressed as "sir". For me, "passing" is being able to move though and interact with society and be accepted for who I am as how I am presenting. I think Sophie's tale of having to out herself to someone is the true measure of "passing".

If you're looking for the brief instances where you get away without being outed, I used to work out at an athletic club every morning on my way to work. Some days that would include lap swimming in the pool. Sometimes I would take my swim wearing a woman's one-piece bathing suit with a pretty floral print. While there were family changing rooms where I could change clothing privately, the only way to access the pool was through either the men's or women's locker rooms, and showers were mandatory before entering the pool. Being early in the morning there were usually few people around, and dressed in an obviously woman's swimsuit, I would enter through the women's locker room. One morning, while in the shower area in my swimsuit and bathing cap a woman entered, returning from the pool area. She looked at me, warned me the water in the pool was very cold today and proceeded to start removing her swimwear. I quickly thanked her for the warning in my best female voice and headed for the pool before she exposed more than her breasts.

I don't feel that was "passing" so much as that "I got away with one". I was dressed in female attire in a place where the woman expected to only encounter other women. My presentation was good enough, and the encounter brief enough that she didn't suspect I was anything other than her expectations.

[docrobbysherry]

U passed for sure that time, Claire!:thumbsup:

Quite different from Steffi's similar incident. Where she avoided looking directly at the woman changing and they exchanged no conversation! Not passing, more like someone just passing by.:thumbsdn:

[Claire M]

Sherry, I consider the pool incident more of a lucky escape than passing. Had we kept up the conversation while she completely disrobed, I would consider that passing.

On the other hand, I interacted with the gentleman and his grandchildren shopping for school supplies for well over 15 minutes. We talked about my children (both grown), the school his kids would be attending and even one or two of the staff at the school I knew personally. Never once did he or the children give any I dication they saw me as other than the woman I was presenting (I don't know, nor do I care what was said in their car on the way home!). To me, THAT is passing.

All a matter of personal perspective!!

[docrobbysherry]

I agree. Score, Claire!:battingeyelashes:

[nancy58]

Since I'm not a mind reader, I can't be sure whether I've passed or not, but several times I have spoken to cisgender women and not seen "the look" that indicates they've figured out something was off. My favorite time was when I stopped at a small museum in a small town and had a pretty lengthy conversation about canals on the East Coast (U.S.) Fall Line with the woman working there. We were the only two people in the place, so I knew I had her full attention. She never let on. There have been a number of other times when conversations were shorter, but that one stands out. But, generally, I feel that the success rate for us is a good bit higher than 5%. I can't be that good. :battingeyelashes:

[MonikaCD]

Sherry, I consider the pool incident more of a lucky escape than passing. Had we kept up the conversation while she completely disrobed, I would consider that passing.

One possibility that comes to my mind is that she was not wearing her glasses to the pool, so if you were in a female only space, sounded like female and was wearing female bathing suit - you were female to her.

[Joanie CD]

As so many of you have said, there are many variations of passing. Because I have spent a lot of time as Joanie in the last year or two, I've decided that I "pass as trans". That is, I go to restaurants, stores, and bars, and while I don't get "ma'am"ed all the time, I also don't get dirty looks or snickers. I have a lot of interaction with strangers. In my opinion they are thinking I'm trans, and doing my best to look feminine, even if they can tell I was not born a woman. Of course I could be way off base here. I might pass once in a while to some people. A few recent examples:
1. I went to a grocery store and bought a chicken breast at the meat counter. The friendly guy behind the counter called me "ma'am" very naturally.
2. I went to a strip mall Chinese restaurant and ordered takeout. The lady at the counter also called me "ma'am".
3. I spent 5 days camping solo as Joanie in my RV (trailer/caravan). After checkout, of course I had to go to the dump station to drain my waste tanks. There was a large motorhome ahead of me, and they were trying to attach their towed vehicle behind. There was a couple slightly older than me (in their 70s) and the man came over to say they would pull out of my way. I told him I was in no hurry, that they could finish hooking up, and he said "Thank you ma'am". I was wearing a purple T-shirt and jeans, although I did have small hoop earrings and a wooden pendant necklace on a leather thong. They pulled forward, and while I was doing my thing, I took my trash to the dumpster, and, since I had to walk right past them, ended up having a very nice conversation with the couple for 5 or 10 minutes. Did I "pass"? Who knows? But it was exactly the same interaction that I would have had in guy mode, or if I were a GG, so as far as I'm concerned, that's what I'm going for. At that point I didn't really care whether they thought I was a man playing dressup, a transwoman, or a GG.

[MarinaTwelve200]

And don't think you have to be "Pretty" to pass either. A few years ago, eating supper at church, right before our "Womanless beauty contest", I walked right by our Choir director, in costume, a couple of times, and didn't notice it was him. He is a big stout "macho" guy, one of the LEAST likely to "pass", but I just thought he was one of the older church ladies helping out, and thought nothing of it. The effect was totally realistic. Women come in ALL shapes and forms, so don't think offhand that you might not be "passable", one way or another. You might simply not like how you look, but you may STILL be able to pass and not know it. (Except perhaps, when you talk) I think more than 5% can pass, perhaps as many as 25% or MORE if they try and don't care about their looks.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Quite different from Steffi's similar incident. Where she avoided looking directly at the woman changing and they exchanged no conversation! Not passing, more like someone just passing by.

I didn't talk to the other woman nor did I look at her. But we could both see each other in the mirror that I was using for makeup and she was using to check out the tops. I don't think that she would have stripped down to her bra if she didn't think that I was a woman.